Radiator filler cap and the like



Dec. 30; 1924. 1 1,521,125

- 5. .1. RACKHAM I RADIATOR FILLER GAP AND THE LIKE File yd Sept. 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1,521,125 (3. J. RACKHAM RADIATOR FILLER 'QAP AND THE LIKE Fi led Sept, 24, 1923' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented oeeeo, 1924.:

GEORGE J. RAGKHAM, or CHICAGO,"ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR ro YELLowfcoAcH Menu FACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION ILLINOIS.

- RADIATOR FILLER GAP AND TIIHE LIKE.

7 Application filed September 24, 1923. Serial No. 664,526

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. RAcKnaM,

a subject of the King of England, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State e of'Illinoi's, have invented certai'nnew and useful Improvements in Radiator Filler Caps and the like, of which the following is a specification. f V Thisinve'ntion has to do with certa1n'1m-.

1o provements in radiator filler caps and the like, and has reference partlcularly to 1mprovements in radiator filler caps for radiatom; of automobilesandother motor vehicles.

tion is to provide a filler cap of such construction that'it can be very ea'sil'y opened or closed by the operator. In this connection a further object is to provide an arerangement such that the act of looking .or'

unlocking the filler cap may be performed by turning the proper element through only a quarter revolution or less;

In connection with theforegoing, a fur? ther object is to provide a construction such that when the filler.cap is turned into closed position it will be held there securely in the sealed condition under spring pressure, so as to provide the desired seal; In this connection, a further object is to provide an arrangement such that the cap proper will engage the stationary neck or sleeve with a wedging or tapering engagement so as to insure a substantially steam tight connection.

rapidly filled. Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a' detailed the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

I In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a vertical section through a tion taken on' One of the objects of the present.inven-- A further object of the invention is to description of the same, which consists in' the symbol. member 22 has a filler cap and radiator neck embodyingthe features of the present invention, the cap being shown in the'open position by means of dotted lines;

ig. 2 shows a plan view corresponding toFig.1; I

Fig. 3 shows a section taken on line 3-3 of 1 looking'in the direction of the arrows;

Fig; 4 shows asection taken on line 14.- of Fig-1 looking in the direction of the arrows; 3

' Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary vertical secline 5-5 ofFig. 3 looking in the direction of the'arrows; and

Fig. 6 shows an end view of the cross looking bar.

In the construction illustrated in the drawings, the radiator neck, which, is designated by the numeral 7, is provided in its lower portion with a series of', webs or flanges 8} which support'a central collar 9, by ,means drawn solidly down onto the radiator as by means-of a stud 10. Around its' upper end the neck is" provided with a tapered circular seat 11, the same being preferably ground and tapering at an angle of60 to the horizontal or thereabouts.

The necks? 'is provided at one side with a 111g 14 which is pivoted between the cars 13 and 15 of the cap. This pivotal connection is somewhat loose, so that the cap can adjust its position slightly inorder to come to a-firm even seat. In itslower portion the cap is provided with a downwardly depending circular-flange 16, whose outer edge is .beveled andpreferably ground so as to come to an even seat against the seat 11. ,The

entire cap can be turned back into the position of the dotted lines of Fig. 1,'so as to provide a large clear opening to the neck 7 Extending downwardly from the central portion of the cap 12 is a pocket 17, the lower end 18 of which is slightl contracted upper end of said stem 20 carrying a head 21 on which may be placed a symbol plate 22 or the like. The lower end of the stem 20 carries a crossbar 23 whose upper surface is preferably. tapered or of \l-shaped cross section, as shown at 24 in Fig. 6. In the particular construction a do" it illustrated,

of which the entire neck may be wardly depending stem 22*, the low-f er end of which receives a nut 22 vwhich' serves to draw the cross bar 23 firmly against the lower end ofthe stem 20. The exact construction 'of the stem 20 'and ts lower'end of the cross bar'23 is largely a matter of design, but .it'will be observed [that in the arrangement illustrated the loweredge of the head :21 establishes a i 10 shoulder a ainst which the upper end of the spring 19 cars, Consequently, said spring serves eifectively to tend to raise the cross bar 23 withrespectto the cap 12. Extending inwardly from the front and rear faces of the upper portion of the neck 7 are lugs 24: and 25 respectively, which lugs are segmental in form The lower faces of these slugs are recessed, as shown at 26 in Fig. 5,

so that when the cross bar 23 comes into the proper locking position its end portions will snap into these recesses and thus tend to prevent rotation of the cross bar, together with the stem 20 and symbol 22. Upon-turning the symbol 22 through something less than a quarter revolution, the bar 23 will turn with it a sufiicient'distance to be completely disengaged from the lugs 24 and 25 so as to free thecap 12 and thus allow it to be turned back to open the neck.

. The presence of the spring 19 serves not only to draw the cap 12 home under sufficient pressure to insure a tight closure, but also permits the necessary amount of yield of the bar 23 to insure engagement or disengagement with the lugs 24 and 25, as the case may be; and said spring also will allow the necessary amount of yield to permit ofthe escape of steam if necessary in order to avoid generation of excessive pressure within the radiator.

While I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of the features of my present invention, still I do not limit myself to the same except asI may do so in the claims.

I claim: 7 1. In a-device of the class described, the

combination. of a vertical neck having in its upper portion a circular tapered seat, a pair stem and having its lower end engaging the shoulder aforesaid and its lower end enof oppositely disposed inwardly projecting lugs on the upper portion of said neck having their lower faces upwardly recessed,

gagin the portion of the stem, a

cross' ar on the lower end of the stem,

having the upper surfaces of its end portions wedge shaped and adaptedto engage theirecesses of the neck lugs, and a symbol connected to the upperportion of the stem .and adapted toioccupy a position across the vehicle when the bar is in engagement with the 'lugsj-aforesaid, substantially as described.

2! In a device of the class described, the combination of a vertical neck having in its upper portion a circular tapered seat, a pair:

of oppositely disposed inwardly projecting lugs on the upper portion of said neck and having their lower faces recessed, a cap having in its bottom portion a downwardly depending circular tapered flangej'adapted to engage the 'seat aforesaid, a loosely yieldablepivotal connection between the cap and the upperportion of the neck, a vertical stem extending through the cap and slidable and rotatabletherein, a spring normally tending to raise such stem, a cross bar .on the lower end ofthe stem having the upper surfaces of its end portions wedge shaped and adapted to engage the recesses of the neck lugs, and a symbol connected to the upper portionof the stem and adapted to occupy a position across the vehicle when the bar is in engagement with the lugs aforesaid, substantially as described.

3. In a deviceof the class described, the

combination of a vertical neck having in its upper portion a circular tapered seat, a pair of oppositely disposed inwardly projecting lugs on theupper portion of said neck and havin their lower faces upwardly recessed, a cap aving in' its bottom portion a downwardly depending circular tapered flange adapted to engage theseat aforesaid, a loosely. yieldable pivotal connection between -the cap and the upper portion of the neck, a stem extending through the cap and slidable and rotatable with respect thereto,

a cross bar on the lower end of the stern having the upper-surfaces of its 'end portions wedge-shaped and adapted to engage the recessesof the neck lugs, and means for drawing the stem upwardly with respect to the cap, substantially as described,

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a vertical neck having in its upper port-ion a circular tapered seat, a

pair of oppositely disposed inwardly pro-' jecting lugs on the upper portion of said neck, a cap having in its bottom portion a downwardly depending circular tapered flange adapted to engage the seat aforesaid, a loosely yieldable pivotal connection between the cap and the upper portion of the ,neck, a stem extending through the cap and slidable and rotatable with respect thereto, a crossbar on the lower end of the stem adapted'to engage the lugs aforesaid, and

. respect to the combination of a "ertical neck means for drawing the stem upwardly with cap, substantially as described.

5. In a device-of the class described, the having in its upper portion a tapered seat, a pair of oppositely disposed inwardly projecting lugs onv the upperportion of said neck, a cap having in its bottom portiona downwardly depending tapered flange adapted to engage the seat afLoresaid, a stem extending through the cap and slidable and rotatable with respect thereto, a cross bar on the lower end of the stem and adapted to engage the lugs aforesaid, and means for drawing the stem upwardly with respect to the cap, substantially as described.

GEORGE J. RAGKHAM. 

